Effects of Technology and Social Media on Childhood and Adolescent Social Development

Abstract

One of the most prominent conflicts in the 21st Century is the increase in usage of the Internet and AI and how they should be integrated into society. These forms of entertainment and assistance have become increasingly accessible to the general people, including still-developing children and adolescents in primary and secondary education. As these forms of technology have evolved and strengthened, school systems have adjusted to fit them into the curriculum, often at the cost of education. Particularly in elementary schools throughout the United States, teaching has come to be assisted by mediums that can lead to a shorter attention span. As students continue to develop and learn, their lack of ability to reason discourages reading, leading to a decrease in literacy rates. Not only that, but with growing technology comes increased social media usage as well. While technology in general has beneficial aspects in school, social media can be disruptful to learning environments and lead to cyberbullying. The relationships between these factors demonstrate the path of deterioration of education and society, and urge for further analysis and research.